A2steve’s Used Parts service

Steve, what in general is it that dooms an A2 to the break destiny?
Mouldy interior is a top reason I could guess?
Body rust is not on the list, right :D.
(not criticising breaking, just curious)
 
Joga said:
Steve, what in general is it that dooms an A2 to the break destiny?
Mouldy interior is a top reason I could guess?
Body rust is not on the list, right :D.
(not criticising breaking, just curious)
Click to expand...

It very much depends on each car, but with this one it’s been standing for 3 years and had an issue with overheating before it was parked up. It also has no operational clutch. Combine this with a relatively low spec and 175k miles it’s not one worth investing in.
 
Ah, so there isnt really a single top reason for the majority of them? (like 60% of all you have dismantled had the xxxx problem) ?
 
Yes surely, and I would never doubt that. It was more a technical type of question.
It is really good that someone who knows how to disassembly without destroying other parts in the process is doing it.
I have seen too much on the breaker yards of how people just break/destroy other parts to get to what they are after :(.
 
A2Steve said:
For a number of years, I have been supplying used parts the members of this club.

The venture initially started out by purchasing a tree damaged A2 from a friend, with the aim of taking it apart to better understand how the cars were built and to improve my mechanical skills (I could barely do an oil change at this point). I didn’t anticipate that what was initially started as a tinker about with a damaged A2 would turn into a fully functioning tax registered business that is very efficient in the breakdown and supply of used A2 parts, shipping items all over the world. It will never hit the FTSE100 but as a part-time business I’m proud of what it’s become and it puts a few extra quid in my pocket each month.

I’ve always based my model on 3 things, price, service and enthusiasm and sticking to these 3 principles have stood me well. 95% of my customers are repeat customers, many of whom I’ve been supplying for years.

Price - I have never charged more for an item than I would be willing to pay for it myself. Whilst this has meant that over the years I have lost thousands in potential profit, I can end each day knowing that I have helped hundreds of people.

Service – the business has essentially been running 24/7 for the last couple of years. Where else could you message for a part at 2am on a Sunday and get it shipped out on a Monday morning?

Enthusiasm – Unlike the commercial breakers, I’m actually an A2 enthusiast who has been heavily involved in the A2 scene for around 5 years. I love nothing more than seeing someone’s project A2 develop, with the joy that brings them; knowing that I’ve supplied the parts to get it there and been involved in the process.

I have been a little quiet this month in terms of the number of parts I’ve posted, but it’s simply because I’m working on a petrol A2 that deserves some love and attention before sale. Once this is out of the way, normal service shall resume.

I’ve decided to post this following the announcement from the admin team that member services can now be advertised. Any feedback I could receive from customers past and present would be most welcome.



Best wishes



Steve
Click to expand...
Hi Steve my starter motor makes a cranking noise on starting it up but car runs fine it’s a TDI 1.4 any ideas on cost of replacement starter motor or reconditioned one cheers michael brown
 
michaelbrown said:
Hi Steve my starter motor makes a cranking noise on starting it up but car runs fine it’s a TDI 1.4 any ideas on cost of replacement starter motor or reconditioned one cheers michael brown
Click to expand...

Hi MIchael

You can pick up a refurbished starter motor for around £65-70, so unless you are on a very tight budget and can do the work yourself then it’s better to just fit a reconditioned unit. Anything else is a bit of a false economy.
 
Personally I would rather fit a good used second hand starter that was oem fit than a reconded or new Chinese piece of crap
Check the brushes and replace if excessively worn and grease the pinion end

Paul


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Just a little update for all my customers. The courier network is moving a lot slower at the moment due to restrictions on the number of workers allowed into the network with social distancing.

This means that I’m having collections less frequently and the fastest service I can offer is 3-5 days.

95DAF2C8-1A6F-4C01-9459-3148832EF12F.jpeg


I hope you can all appreciate that this is out of my hands and it’s happening for the protection of those in the delivery network.

Thanks all
 
Had a bit of a blow to the business this week. I’ve been using Parcelforce for a number of years for all the large items.

They have announced that they will no longer be transporting car panels as of the 13th July. Namely, doors, bumpers and bonnets. I would imagine this is due to the high chance of damage and subsequent damage claims from other customers.

As far as I’m aware, they were the last economical courier for car body panels. TNT will take them but want £92 delivery for a car door, thereby making body panels uneconomical to deliver.

I’ve been doing some research for a number of days, trying to find an alternative for such panels to no avail.

If anyone is aware of a nationwide courier network that are willing to take car body panels then please let me know.
 
Have they banned carriage of panels or just said they are no longer insured? Unless it’s dangerous I don’t see how they can refuse carriage...

Don’t tell them specifically what’s in the box ‘shaped sheet metal’ and charge extra to triple wrap and pad.

It means no claim is possible for damage but you charge buttons anyway so it’s a risk I’d take.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Pinkythelabrat said:
Have they banned carriage of panels or just said they are no longer insured? Unless it’s dangerous I don’t see how they can refuse carriage...

Don’t tell them specifically what’s in the box ‘shaped sheet metal’ and charge extra to triple wrap and pad.

It means no claim is possible for damage but you charge buttons anyway so it’s a risk I’d take.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Car parts are excluded in many cases against damage claims, so if damaged I cover the cost myself. I think I can disguise a door as something else, wheel arches no problem, maybe even a bonnet, but I think front and rear bumpers may be out of the equation and collection only from now on.
 
I’m not usually an antagonistic person, but to all those Facebook breakers that think ‘breaking an A2’ is about taking a set of lights and seats out and then scrapping the car, do it properly or stop wasting these precious cars!

Taken 15 mins ago and there’s still plenty to be removed.

4582090C-FBA7-4615-8EE9-16D6E1213DDC.jpeg


I’d also like to add, that having had regular discussions with him on a number of matters relating to A2 parts id highly recommend @Clackers as an alternative supplier (obviously if I haven’t got the part ?). He’s of the same mindset of repair a car if you can or if not, make the most of the parts and do your best to be fair with people on price.
 
Last edited:
Your efforts do not go unnoticed Steve and are very much appreciated. I get what you are saying in relation to facebook in that there isn't much genuine love in some groups for our little aluminium cars. One or two unscrupulous breakers have emerged in recent times which hasn't won the A2 fraternity any plaudits on that particular social media platform. Swearing, rude replies and overpricing are at play there which has no place on our forum. It would seem that others have seen this too as our membership input has in fact grown on the back of it. Keep doing what you do and thankyou. ? :D
 
Last edited:
A2Steve said:
I’m not usually an antagonistic person, but to all those Facebook breakers that think ‘breaking an A2’ is about taking a set of lights and seats out and then scrapping the car, do it properly or stop wasting these precious cars!

Taken 15 mins ago and there’s still plenty to be removed.

View attachment 66607

I’d also like to add, that having had regular discussions with him on a number of matters relating to A2 parts id highly recommend @Clackers as an alternative supplier (obviously if I haven’t got the part ?). He’s of the same mindset of repair a car if you can or if not, make the most of the parts and do your best to be fair with people on price.
Click to expand...
I think my/our mindset is waste not want not, I hate waste!
And when it comes to dealing with you lovely folk on here, a simple statement by my dad many many years ago comes into play...treat others the way you would want to be treated....its really quite simple!
Someone used a phrase 'ethical breaker' recently, that is a perfect description for Steve and myself.
Keep up the good work Steve, and thanks for the vote of confidence....??
 
A2Steve said:
Had a bit of a blow to the business this week. I’ve been using Parcelforce for a number of years for all the large items.

They have announced that they will no longer be transporting car panels as of the 13th July. Namely, doors, bumpers and bonnets. I would imagine this is due to the high chance of damage and subsequent damage claims from other customers.

As far as I’m aware, they were the last economical courier for car body panels. TNT will take them but want £92 delivery for a car door, thereby making body panels uneconomical to deliver.

I’ve been doing some research for a number of days, trying to find an alternative for such panels to no avail.

If anyone is aware of a nationwide courier network that are willing to take car body panels then please let me know.
Click to expand...

Bit of good news with this. I’ve found a courier network that will take the doors and wings. They are not as cheap as Parcelforce but at least body panels are back on the offering list without the need to travel to collect ?
 
Well after a very unsuccessful summer of attempting to branch out into A2 car sales I’m now 100% back to parts supply henceforth.

The experience has taught me that my strength lies with parts supply and providing that service to you all genuinely makes me happy.

My hat goes off to those that sell cars for a living, I really don’t know how you do it whilst maintaining a suitable level of sanity.

Currently in the garage for breaking is a 2005 dolphin grey special edition TDI. An ex-members car and in great condition apart from its unfortunate ending with a caved-in offside quarter panel and bent axle.

Awaiting it’s time in the A2Steve chop-shop is a 2002 FSI with stuck manifold flaps, more warning lights than a Christmas tree and a 25 mile journey under its belt with the previous owner with no coolant due to a blown ‘death pipe’.

Black beauty should be coming out of my friends garage next week complete with its turbo conversion but no 6 speed box. The fitment of the box in the donar car wasn’t pretty.

I’ll also be building another A2 Dune over the coming months having found a suitable TDI at a great price from @PaulA2 that will keep my FSI home safe and sound in the bad weather over the winter.

Anyway, thanks all for your continued support.

Steve
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top